Dramatic and Musical

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 87, 1 March 1902, Page 17

Dramatic and Musical

DIX'S Gaiet-s Company has m<ur\ new attractions this \\e*-k and the audience is being educated now for the coming of the Marvellous Craggs." who hare simply astonished their audiences ■wherever they have been. Perhaps the very smartest item on a smaiT piogrammei is the turn of Sivroni and Silvini, whose grotesque eharactei sketches are exceptionally clever. s>nroni is a lithe acrobat, and reminds one of nothing so much as a long piece of indiarubber on spnngs. The pair are excellent comedians. They have been in Wellington before, but their ' turn Iso good that they richly deserve the reception they get each night. * * * The Coleman Sisters are a pair of acrobatic dancers who sing prettily and turn Catherine wheels to music. They are very young and clever, and are well worth seeing. Their "turn" has been received with much enthusiasm, and already the cheerful little ladies are firm favourites. That sweet Wellington singer, Miss Nellie Gage, is lifting up her fine contralto voice for Gaiety audiences at present. She has an effortless way of using her gift that appeals strongly to her hearers, and she Bings songs eminently suited to a voice of the nice quality she is fortunate enough to possess. * * * Mr. Edgar Granville has made hit, adieux. His ' turn" has been very popular, and more than ordinarily clever. Rivenhall, the galvanic, is stall jerking out snatches of songs and dancing frog-like steps He also will be missed when he departs the pcene of his present triumphs. * * * Madame Dante, her mirror, and her diaphanous draperies, mystify and amuse as usual, and there are many others, including Charlie Faning and Miss Devoe. I forgot to mention Alf . Lawton, who is always so reminiscent of the evergreen Johnny Collins. He is still to be seen and heard waking up the enthusiasm of the Theatre Royal habitues; and helping Percy Dix to fill his house. Pity Percy couldn't build a wing or two on to his theatre. I'm afraid he'll have to puti the overflow of his Craggs' audiences somewhere in the dome. I have seen the Craggs, and know whereof I prophesy. * * * Wilson Barrett, the eminent English actor, whose tour of the colony is quite a triumphal progress, commences his Wellington season to-morrow (Saturday) night, with the production of Sheridan Knowles splendid tragedy "Virgimus '" The play was originally written for Macready, and practically every tragedian of note, including Dillon, Phelps Chas. Kean, G. Y. Brooke, and Forrest has included it in his repertoire Mr. Barrett considerably revised and modernised it in such a as to meet

with tht unanimous, approval oi tl>e London outics. and he is said to be the finest living exponent oi the name part. Owing to the season being limited to sixteen nights, within winch time eight pieces aie to be produced, Virgmiub" will bo 'tagcd on Satinet and Monday onK . Of Mr Banetfs Vngimus. Pendennis" of the Obseivei " sa-ss —He hold his audience bv the force of his genius and lound after round of applause that was' applauw went up as the play proceeded. No hnei or moie forcible lendenng of this great character could well be imagined. Perhaps theie is no part in am British diama that makes heavier demands on an actoi than Virginius. which possibly pc counts for the fact that it is not often pi winced None but an artist of the ,en highest rank dare touch it, and c, en then it is only bv the possession of a wide range of dualities that he can make a success of' it. This necessary combination is found in Mr. Bane-tt. and. by reason of this, the performance wa> one to be remembered. * * * Mips Lillah McCarthy, Wilson Barlett's leading lady, was recently pronounced by the well-known London art. critic Mr." Fred B. Harrison to be the most beautiful woman at present on the English stage. # # The probable order of plays during the Wilson Barrett season —'A irgmius " "The Manxman " The Sign of the (Vose," The Silver King, 1 ' 'Othello, 'Man and His Maker,"' 'Quo Vadifi, ' Hamlet." * * * The round fares of the Wilson Barrett Company for the New Zealand tour run over £1000. Considering that only fhe towns are played, and the enormous expenses incidental to the up-keep of such a company, it is necessary that the.v should nightly play to the full capacity of the theatres. This tlhey hare so far done, and Wellington is not hkely to prove the exception. * * * Petitt's New Orleans Juvenile Minstrels now doing good business at the Choral Hall, are an innovation that decent-sized a/udiences have welcomed. The company, composed mamlv of boys, have m their ranks several who aie very successful in their various turns *' and who want but experience to work up into the first - class article. The audiences greet all the items very warmK . and the programme is considerably drawn upon bv demands for repetitions. » ♦ * Emille Beller, the 'star" boy, is ((uaantly original, and Lawrence Matcham is probably a coming artist . George Boxer is a bright boy, who will be heard of yet. aaid various of his friends possess good voices, which assist pleasantly to while away the evening. Little Millie Bertoto gives the best "turn," and has a remarkably musical voice 1 . Her graceful manners and pretty appearance appeal to her audience. In view of the strong counter attractions they have had to cope with, the Juvenile Minstrels have been doing very well. * * ♦ The Hawtrev Comedy Company have reason to be abundantly satisfied with their season m Wellington. A run of eight nights to full houses for "A Messagei from MarY 13 a record not easily beaten in larger towns than the Empire City. And the people of Wellington, on their part have formed high opinions of the Hawtrey Comedy Company. Certainly theT have preached a most wholesome

lesson with "A Message from Mars/ and at will not readily be forgotten. This excellent play was presented foi the last tune on Tuesday night, before a house well filled in every part, and the hearty applause with which the performance wafc most liberally punctuated not only showed how much in sympathy the audience were with it., but also how effectively the various telling points were scored by the personages of the diama. * * * Tom. Dick, and Harry,"' which was presented for the first time* on Wednesday brings into relief thei capabilities of the company for hilarious comedy, developing almost into broad farce. Like plays of its cla&s, it is flimsy m texture and plot, and depends maanly foi its, feiiceesfe upon, ridiculous situations and ludicious mistakes in a game of crosspurposes and confused identity. It realh must be seen in order to be emjoved To describe it were' too tedious a task for anything so light and frolicsome and boisterously absurd. If you feel out of sorts at all. throw care to the winds and drop in to have a look at Tom Dick, and Harry." It is preceded by a curtain-raiser called "A Highland Legacy." The season closes to-night. # # Mrs. Tom Mann will be a distinct acquisition to the' musical resources of Wellington. She is a licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music, has a sweet-, well-trained mezzo-soprano voice, and has been heard to advantage at concents m London, chiefly in oratorio work. She will be heard in Wellington for the firs* time on Sunday week, when ettie will sing two solos at her husband's lecture. Mrs. Mann is just over 30 Tears of age. * ♦ * Mr Harold Ash ton, the most popular and (suoceissful of all Mr. J. C Williamsons theatrical managers, arrived late last week to prepare the city for the advent of Mr. Wilson Barrett and his powerful company. Mr. Ashton is always the herald of good things, but on this occasion he marches in front of a regular triumphal procession. (Continued on page 18.)

Mr. J. W. M. Harrison, who, for the past five years, has been, a prominent, exponent of physical culture, and is instructor to the leading colleges and schools in this city, has obtained for his new gymnasium the rear part, of the first floor in the building lately occupied by Messrs. Wilkins and Field, which i& larger and higher than the old gymnasium, and possesses much superior dressing-room accommodation. It is to be furnished with new and up-to- __ date appliances imported specially from Home Mr Harrisons classes are to commence on the 17th of Mardh.

Mr. Harry Stockwell, the New Zear lander, recently took part in the Sunday production of -'Elijah" at the Queens. Hall, London. * * * Eva Clements and DArcy Stanheld, a team that were very popular m New Zealand two or three years ago. ha\e been very successful in Great Britain. * * • Said the Dartos made it a lule in New Zealand to spend exactly one-halt their weekly salaiy in entertaining. lr true, that may account for many very SA\t'et notices. * *■ * The Hollow a\ Diamatio Company, which drifts this way next Decembei, is putting on the most telling bit ot realign at present in Sydney. Inev call it £1000 "Reward." and two men snvaovU kill each othei with knives. The eorv "scene fills the building to the roof every night * * +" Jim Mauon, the burnt-cork gentleman, who was a favourite at the Dix s Gaiety, was recently married to Miss Wilhelmma McKeraan, a Hawke s tfav settler's daughter. Jim did it in style at the pro-Cathedral in Dunedm. and the Yen. Archdeacon Robinson was the officiating clergyman. * • * Cissy Loftus, who plays Marguerite to the Faust of Sir Henry Irving shortly malde her first great success as an imitator, her discoverer being Harry Rickards. Asked once what she considered her most remarkable achievement she said "My imitation of J^etty Lind's mutation of her imitation ot my mutation of her." * * * The Marvellous Craggs have with them a Baby Cragg, who appeared early in tlus century, and who is said to take to acrobatism like a duckling to water. The little fellow cops for his father to throw him up on his feet every moming. The baby thinks the fun of the world is to throw somersaults oft his father's feet before anyone else is astn . * • • Williamsons ill-luck with his Italian Opera Company recals an incident of Martin Simonson, when he was touring New- Zealand w ith an Italian opera company some years ago. The season had been a disastrous one, and on the last night Martin came on the stage to addiess the audience. "Vhat you vant said he. "is not Eetalian opera, but a barrel organ an' a monkev-'' * * * Miss Letty Harmston. formerly of Pollard's Opera Company, has recently maimed Mr. Harold Douglas Terrell, a Manila banister. The date was December 7th last, and the scene Hongkong She is the seventh of the Pollard Company who has married outside of the profession A propos. Pollard's Percy marries Miss Jessie Ramsay one ot the company's chainning young ladies, in May. Miss Ramsay belongs to Dunedm, and the marriage is to take place in that city. Mesdames McDonald aaid Smith are the two business-like ladies of Dunedm who are responsible for the charming programmes that have become a feature of the Opera House. Wellington, and the theatres elsewhere. The ladies ha\e been touring programme representatives for the dainty booklets used by the Brough Comedy Company, Hawtie\ Comedy Company, and other first-class companies touring the colony. The artistic productions are well worthy to be kept as souvenirs — for which purpose they are intended.

and there is a possibility this Eastat tide that the Alhaiubia Club, ol Dunodin, will extend rhs bi-annual trip to Christchurch as fai as Wellington It is only in the ordei of things that the management ot the local football olubs interested m these matches will so arrange them that the\ will not be placed on the one day- -no doubt one will be fixed for the Satuida\, and theotlici for Easter Monda\ As these two matches will excite a lot of mteie&t and, consideung that the weather at Easter time is general I \ pleasant foi watching football, their is bound to be a good attendance ot the public ajid consequent h , the cricket match would suffer. There is no question about it that a footbaJl match is a great deal moie popular in Wellington than the summei game, and the attempt to run the two events in a holiday season must tesult in a financial loss to the promoters of the gentler sport. All things consideied, them, it would be as well to abandon the North v South Island match foi this season Another cunosit\ in cricket teporting in Wellington Last Fndav'.^ papers said — ' The Old Boys requiring 165 runs to win, have seven wickets vet to fall." Saturday's were altogether different "The Old Boys' innings closed with nine wickets clown foi 64 luns whidh left Wellington \ ictonous bv 290 runs."